Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Consisting of great mass; containing a great quantity of matter: Refers to something having a very large mass, weight, or amount of material.
   • Imposing in scale, scope, degree, or power: Describes something very large, extensive, or powerful in its impact or extent.
   • Being the same substance throughout; solid and uniform: Refers to something made of a single, dense material without hollow parts.
   • Imposing in size, bulk, or solidity: Describes something that appears very large, heavy, and substantial.

Examples of Usage

• Describing great mass:
  • The asteroid was so massive that its gravitational pull was significant.
  • A massive star collapsed to form a black hole.
• Describing large scale or degree:
  • The company launched a massive advertising campaign.
  • The project required a massive amount of funding.
• Describing uniform solidity:
  • The ancient idol was carved from a single, massive block of granite.
• Describing imposing size:
  • The castle was protected by massive stone walls.

Advanced Usage

• In geology: Used to describe rocks or minerals with a homogeneous structure, not layered or banded.
  • The geologist identified the sample as massive quartz.
• In medicine (historical): Referring to a large, solid dose of a drug or treatment.
  • The old textbooks described a massive dose of penicillin.
• "Massive" as an intensifier (informal, chiefly British): Used to mean "very great" or "excellent."
  • We had a massive time at the concert last night!

Variants and Related Words

• Massively (adverb): To a very great degree; enormously.
  • The software was massively popular upon its release.
• Massiveness (noun): The quality or state of being massive.
  • The massiveness of the ancient pyramids is awe-inspiring.

Synonyms

• Enormous: Very large in size, quantity, or extent.
• Immense: Extremely large or great, especially in scale or degree.
• Colossal: Extremely large.
• Monumental: Great in importance, size, or scale.
• Gigantic: Of very great size or extent; huge.

Related Phrases

• Massive heart attack: A severe and extensive myocardial infarction.
  • He was hospitalized after suffering a massive heart attack.
• Massive open online course (MOOC): A free online course available to a very large number of people.
  • She enrolled in a Massive Open Online Course on artificial intelligence.

Related Idioms

• Make a massive difference: To have a very significant effect.
  • Your support could make a massive difference to our charity drive.
• A massive undertaking: A task or project that is extremely large, difficult, or complex.
  • Rebuilding the infrastructure after the war was a massive undertaking.

Adjective

1. consisting of great mass; containing a great quantity of matter
   • Earth is the most massive of the terrestrial planets
2. imposing in scale or scope or degree or power
   • massive retaliatory power
   • a massive increase in oil prices
   • massive changes
3. being the same substance throughout
   • massive silver
4. imposing in size or bulk or solidity
   • massive oak doors
   • Moore's massive sculptures
   • the monolithic proportions of Stalinist architecture
   • a monumental scale